Chapter 25

Chapter 25

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Chapter 25: Sorcery and a Pair of Ghosts Befall Brother and Sister; The Magic Jade and a Pair of Immortals Meet at the Red Chamber

Now, Xiahong had been in a distracted state, her thoughts tangled in longing. She had dozed off in a daze, dreaming that Jia Yun tried to pull her close. She turned and ran, only to trip over the threshold and tumble to the ground. Startled awake, she realized it was all a dream. From then on she tossed and turned, unable to sleep the whole night through. By dawn the next morning she had only just risen when a few maids came to fetch her to sweep the floors and fetch washing water. Xiahong did not bother to comb her hair, just haphazardly pinned it up before the mirror, washed her hands, tied a waist-cloth around her middle, and set about cleaning the room. Who could have guessed that Baoyu, having noticed Xiahong the day before, had taken her to heart. If he were to summon her directly by name, he feared that Xijie and the others might feel slighted; and besides, he did not yet know what sort of girl Xiahong was. If she turned out well enough, fine; but if not, it would be awkward to dismiss her afterward. So his heart was heavy. He rose early and did not comb his wash either, just sitting there lost in thought. After a while he opened the window, and through the gauze pane he looked out clearly. He saw several maids sweeping the ground outside, all rouged and powdered, with flowers in their hair and willows tucked behind their ears—but the one from yesterday was nowhere to be seen. Baoyu slipped on his shoes and drifted out of his room, pretending to admire the flowers, looking this way and that. When he raised his head, he seemed to see someone leaning on the railing beneath the covered walkway at the southwest corner, but unfortunately a begonia tree in front of him blocked his view and he could not make her out clearly. He had to shift one more step and look carefully—and indeed, was that not the maid from yesterday standing there in a trance? He was about to go forward, but felt it would not be proper. Just then he saw Bihen come to urge him to wash his face, so he had to go back inside. Let us leave it at that.

Meanwhile, Xiahong had been standing in a daze herself when she saw Xijie beckon to her. She had no choice but to walk over. Xijie said with a smile, "Our watering-can hasn't been put away yet. Go to Miss Lin's place and borrow theirs for us." Xiahong assented and set out for Bamboo Lodge. As she was crossing Smoke-and-Mist Bridge, she looked up and saw that high up on the hillside everything was screened off with curtains, and she remembered that today workmen were planting trees inside. She turned and looked around, and there in the distance a group of people were digging in the earth; Jia Yun was sitting on a rock on the hillock. Xiahong wanted to go over but did not dare, so she went dejectedly to Bamboo Lodge, borrowed the watering-can, and returned, listless, to lie down in her room. The others thought she was feeling under the weather for the moment and paid her no mind.

In the blink of an eye another day passed, and the very next day was Lady Wang's birthday. Lady Wang's people had originally sent invitations to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, but Lady Wang, seeing that Grandmother Jia was unwell, decided not to go. It was Aunt Xue, together with Sister Feng and the young ladies of the Jia household—Baochai and Baoyu—who all went together, returning only late that evening. As it happened, Lady Wang saw Jia Huan come back from school and ordered him to copy out a Diamond Sutra and recite it. Jia Huan was sitting on Lady Wang's kang, had a lamp brought in, and was copying the text with great airs and affectation. Now he asked Caixia to pour him a cup of tea, now he asked Yuchuan to trim the candle wick, and now he complained that Jinchuan was blocking the light. The maids had always disliked him and ignored him. Only Caixia still got along with him; she poured a cup of tea and handed it to him. Seeing that Lady Wang was talking with someone, she whispered softly to Jia Huan, "You ought to know your place. Why go out of your way to make yourself disliked by this one and that?" Jia Huan replied, "I know all that already. Don't try to fool me. You're on good terms with Baoyu now and you ignore me—I can see that clearly enough." Caixia bit her lips and poked him on the head with her finger. "Ungrateful wretch! Like a dog biting Lü Dongbin—you don't know a good heart when you see one."

As they were talking, in came Sister Feng, who paid her respects to Lady Wang. Lady Wang then asked her at length about which ladies had been guests that day, how the opera had been, and how the banquet had gone. After a few words, Baoyu also arrived. He entered and, seeing Lady Wang, spoke to her with proper decorum for a few moments, then had his forehead band removed, took off his robe, pulled off his boots, and flung himself into Lady Wang's lap. Lady Wang stroked and caressed him all over his face and body. Baoyu clung to Lady Wang's neck, chattering away. Lady Wang said, "My child, you've had too much wine again—your face is burning hot. If you keep on fidgeting, you'd soon be sick from the wine. Just lie quietly for a while." So saying, she told someone to bring a pillow. Baoyu got down, lay down behind Lady Wang, and asked Caixia to pat him as he lay. Baoyu began joking with Caixia, but she responded coolly, barely answering, her eyes constantly drifting toward Jia Huan. Baoyu took her hand and said with a smile, "Good sister, pay some attention to me too." As he spoke, he pulled her hand toward him. Caixia pulled her hand back and would not let him, saying, "If you keep this up, I'll start shouting."

The two of them were in the middle of their scuffle when Jia Huan, who had overheard everything, happened to be present. He had always nursed a grudge against Baoyu, and now, seeing him carrying on with Caixia, the venom in his heart surged beyond all restraint. Though he dared not voice his resentment openly, he had long been scheming against Baoyu in secret, only never finding an opportunity. Now, with Baoyu so close at hand, he resolved to scald his eyes blind with hot oil. Deliberately feigning clumsiness, he thrust the oil-saturated candle straight at Baoyu's face.

At once Baoyu let out a cry of "Ai-yo!" and everyone in the room leapt in alarm. They quickly moved the standing lamp on the ground closer and fetched three or four more lamps from the inner and outer rooms to examine him by. Baoyu's face and head were covered in oil from brow to crown.

Lady Wang was at once frantic and furious. She ordered someone to wash and clean Baoyu while she railed at Jia Huan. Xifeng scrambled up onto the kang in three or four quick steps to tidy Baoyu up, remarking with a laugh, "The Third Young Master is still as skittish as a chicken with its feet on fire. I always said he's not fit for high company. His mother, Concubine Zhao, ought to teach him better."

This reminded Lady Wang, who stopped berating Jia Huan and instead summoned Concubine Zhao to scold her. "You've bred a black-hearted, ill-bred, worthless wretch and don't even try to control him! Time and again I've let it pass, and you've only grown more insolent!"

Concubine Zhao, though she had long harbored jealousy and resentment toward both Xifeng and Baoyu, had never dared let it show. Now that Jia Huan had caused yet another disaster and she had to swallow this bitter humiliation, she not only endured it in silence but had to go over and help tidy Baoyu as well. A string of blisters had risen along the left side of Baoyu's face, though mercifully his eyes were unharmed.

When Lady Wang saw this, her heart ached with distress, and she worried about how she would explain it to the Old Lady the next day. In her agitation, she lashed out at Concubine Zhao once more. Then she comforted Baoyu again and ordered someone to bring medicine to draw out the poison and reduce the swelling.

"It does hurt a bit, but it's nothing serious," said Baoyu. "If Grandmother asks tomorrow, just tell her I scalded myself."

Xifeng laughed. "Even if you say you did it yourself, they'll still scold the people who weren't watching carefully enough to keep you from getting burned. Either way there'll be a scene. Tomorrow you can say whatever you like for all the good it will do."

After Lady Wang had people escort Baoyu carefully back to his room, Xiren and the others were thrown into a panic when they saw him.

When Lin Daiyu saw Baoyu go out for the whole day, she felt listless, with no one to talk to. That evening, she sent people two or three times to ask whether he had returned, and this time he had finally come back—only to have been burned, of all things. Daiyu hurried over to see him. She found Baoyu looking in a mirror, the left side of his face thickly coated with medicine. Daiyu assumed the burn was very serious and rushed up to ask how it had happened and to have a look. When Baoyu saw her coming, he quickly covered his face and waved her away, refusing to let her see—knowing his fastidious nature and his aversion to such things. Daiyu herself knew she shared this peculiarity, and she knew Baoyu was afraid in his heart that she would find it repulsive. So she smiled and said, "Let me see where you've been burned. What are you hiding?" Even as she spoke, she leaned in and, taking him firmly by the neck, forced a look and asked how much it hurt. Baoyu said, "It doesn't hurt very much. It'll be better in a day or two." Daiyu sat for a while, then returned to her room feeling low. Nothing more happened that night.

The next day, Baoyu saw Grandmother Jia. Though he insisted on taking the blame himself and said it had nothing to do with anyone else, Grandmother Jia nevertheless gave the attendants a scolding. A day later, Ma the Sorceress, Baoyu's godmother from the temple, came to pay her respects at the Rongguo Mansion. When she saw Baoyu, she was greatly startled. On learning the cause and being told it was a burn, she nodded and sighed, drew her finger over his face, muttered and chanted something under her breath, and said, "I guarantee he'll be fine. It's just a passing calamity." She then said to Grandmother Jia, "Your Old Ladyship wouldn't know what the sutras and the Buddha's teachings tell us. The fact is, the sons of princes, dukes, ministers, and great officials are, from the moment they are born, dogged by many malicious spirits who, whenever they get the chance, pinch them or tweak them, knock their rice bowl from their hands at mealtimes, or give them a shove when they're walking. That's why so often the scions of great families fail to grow up." When Grandmother Jia heard this, she pressed her: "Is there some Buddhist remedy for this?" Ma the Sorceress said, "That's easy. Just have him do more good deeds to cultivate karma. Besides, the sutras say that in the West there is a Great Bodhisattva of Universal Radiance whose special function is to illuminate darkness and evil influences. If devout men and women worship him with a sincere heart, he will forever protect their children and grandchildren, keeping them healthy and peaceful, free from all calamities caused by evil spirits or sudden fright." Grandmother Jia asked, "But how does one worship this Bodhisattva?" Ma the Sorceress said, "It doesn't cost much. Besides incense and candles, you simply add a few extra catties of oil each day and light a great sea lamp. This sea lamp is the very manifestation of the Bodhisattva's image, and it must never be allowed to go out, day or night." Grandmother Jia said, "How much oil does it take for a full day and night? Tell me exactly, so I can perform this act of merit." Hearing this, Ma the Sorceress smiled and said, "That's up to you—it depends on the donor's wish and willingness to give. At our temple, for example, there are several places where the oil is supplied by princesses and ladies of rank: the Dowager Princess of the Prince of Nan'an's household gives the most, her vow being the greatest—forty-eight catties of oil a day, with one catty of rush wick, and the sea lamp is only slightly smaller than a vat. The lady of the Marquis of Jintian's household is a step down—no more than twenty-four catties a day. Then there are several other households that give five catties, three catties, or one catty—there's no fixed amount. As for poor families who can't afford these things, even four taels or half a catty will do—they can't be left without it." Grandmother Jia nodded and thought it over. Ma the Sorceress added, "There's another thing: if it's for parents or elders, it's fine to give more. But for someone like the Old Ancestress doing this now for Baoyu, it wouldn't be good to give too much—the boy might not be able to withstand it and it might actually shorten his blessings. It shouldn't be spent recklessly. If you want to give, seven catties at most, five catties at least, that should do it." Grandmother Jia said, "Since you put it that way, then five catties a day shall be the measure. Bring it all together each month and collect it then." Ma the Sorceress intoned, "Amitabha Buddha, great merciful Bodhisattva!" Grandmother Jia then had someone give orders: "From now on, whenever Baoyu goes out, give a few strings of cash to the pages attending him, to hand out to any poor monks or Taoists they meet."

After this, Ma the Sorceress sat a while longer, then went around to pay her respects to the various apartments and make casual visits. She happened to come to Concubine Zhao's room. After they had greeted each other, Concubine Zhao told a little maid to pour tea for her. Ma the Sorceress noticed some scraps of silk and bits of fabric piled on the kang, and that Concubine Zhao was pasting shoe uppers. Ma the Sorceress said, "I was just needing some shoe-face material. Auntie Zhao, you have scraps of silk—whatever color, just let me have enough for a pair of shoe uppers." At this, Concubine Zhao heaved a sigh and said, "Just look in there—is there a single piece that's any good? Anything decent never ends up in my hands! What's there is there—if you don't mind, go ahead and pick out two pieces." Ma the Sorceress took her at her word and indeed picked out two pieces, which she tucked up her sleeve.

“The other day I sent five hundred cash to make an offering before the King of Medicine,” said Concubine Zhao. “Did you receive it?”

“I offered it up for you long ago,” said the old Buddhist nun.

Concubine Zhao sighed. “Amida Buddha! If I had more money to spare I'd make offerings there regularly. But my will is strong, my means are weak.”

“Just set your mind at rest,” said the nun. “When Master Huan grows up and gets himself an official post, you'll be able to do all the good works you want.”

Concubine Zhao laughed through her nose. “Don't talk such nonsense! Look at the way things are now. How can we compare with anyone else in this house? It's not that they have Baoyu—it's as if they'd got a live dragon! I suppose it's natural for grown-ups to spoil a handsome boy who behaves well. But I won't stand for this mistress here.” As she spoke she held up two fingers.

The nun took her meaning. “Madam Lian?” she asked.

Concubine Zhao was horrified. She shook her hands hastily and going to the door drew back the curtain to make sure there was no one outside. Then she came back and whispered to the nun, “It's terrible, terrible! This mistress would carry the whole estate back to her own family if she could. I'd not be human if I let her.”

Seeing her in this mood, the nun tested her further. “You don't need to tell me that. Can't anyone see it? The trouble is you just let her do as you please. It's really too funny.”

“My good woman, who else would dare stop her?”

The nun laughed shortly through her nose. Then after a pause she said, “It's wicked of me to say this, but you really have no guts! No wonder others walk all over you. Of course you don't dare touch her openly, but you could work against her secretly. Why wait till things come to such a pass?”

Concubine Zhao sensed there was some truth in this and was secretly delighted. “How can I work against her secretly? I've had the idea, but I'm not clever enough to manage it. If you'll teach me the way, I'll reward you handsomely.”

The nun saw they were getting together and pretended to draw back. “Buddha preserve us! Don't ask me about things like that. It would be a sin.”

“There you go again!” protested Concubine Zhao. “You're always ready to help those in trouble. Can you just stand by and let her do us both to death? Do you think I'd fail to reward you?”

“Well, if you say I can't bear to see you bullied, I'll grant you that,” said the nun with a smile. “But if you're thinking of thanking me, you've miscalculated. Even if I wanted a reward, what could you possibly give me that would tempt me?”

Concubine Zhao sensed that she was weakening. “Such a clever woman, and yet so foolish! If your method really works and puts an end to those two, the whole estate will belong to my Huan one day. Then you can have anything you want.”

The nun lowered her head for some time before answering. “When the job's done, what proof will there be? You might just ignore me.”

“That's easily settled,” said Concubine Zhao. “Although I don't have much just now, I've saved up some taels of my own money and a few pieces of jewelry and clothes. You can have those first. For the rest I'll give you an I.O.U., and if you want security I can find you someone. I'll pay the full sum then.”

“You really mean it?”

“Would I tell a lie about this?”

She called in a trusted old serving-woman and whispered in her ear. The woman went out and came back shortly with an I.O.U. for five hundred taels already written out. Concubine Zhao pressed her thumbprint on it, opened a cupboard, and took out her savings to show the nun.

“Take this first to pay for candles and incense, shall you?”

The nun saw the pile of gleaming silver and the promissory note. Without more ado she agreed readily, stretched out her hand to pocket the silver first, then tucked away the I.O.U. After fumbling for some time at her waistband she produced ten paper cut-outs of blue-faced, white-haired ghosts and two paper figures, which she handed to Concubine Zhao.

“Write the birth dates of those two on the two paper figures and hide them together with the five ghosts on their respective beds. That's all there is to it. I'll work the spells at home and they're bound to take effect. Be very careful, and don't be frightened.”

Just then one of Lady Wang's maids came looking for the nun. “Are you here, aunt? The mistress is waiting for you.”

So the two parted, and that is the end of this episode.

Now Daiyu, finding that Baoyu had kept indoors these days with his scalded face, was often in his company. One afternoon, having read a couple of chapters and found them dull, she had sewed a while with Zijuan and Xueyan, which only increased her boredom. She stood leaning against the door and lost herself in thought, then wandered out to look at the young shoots forcing their way up between the flagstones. Without realizing it she had left her courtyard. All around the garden, as far as she could see, there was no one about. Only the radiance of flowers and willows, the songs of birds and the gurgle of a brook.

She strolled over to Happy Red Court, where some maids drawing water were watching a painted thrush bathing in a basin on the verandah. Hearing laughter inside, she went in and found that Li Wan, Xifeng, and Baochai were there too.

"So here's another," they greeted her with smiles.

"What a complete gathering," said Daiyu. "Who sent out invitations?"

"The other day I sent a maid to give you two bottles of tea," said Xifeng. "Where were you?"

"Oh, I quite forgot. Thank you very much."

"Did you try it? Was it good?"

Before she could answer Baoyu said, "To my mind it's passable, but I'm not very keen on it myself. I don't know how it strikes the others."

"The taste is quite light," remarked Baochai, "but the colour's not up to much."

"It's a tribute gift from Siam," said Xifeng. "I tried it and found it rather insipid, not as good as what I drink every day."

"I like it," said Daiyu. "But then tastes differ."

"If you really like it, you can have mine," offered Baoyu.

"If you're so keen on it, I've got some more," put in Xifeng.

"In that case I'll send a maid to fetch it."

"There's no need. I'll have it sent over. As a matter of fact, I want to ask you a favour tomorrow, so I'll send it along with that."

"You hear that?" said Daiyu with a laugh. "They've only given us a bit of their tea and now they want to order us about."

"I'm asking you a favour, not gossiping," retorted Xifeng. "You've drunk our tea, so why not become a daughter-in-law of our house?"

At this they all laughed.

Daiyu flushed crimson and turned away without a word.

"Your second aunt really is witty," said Li Wan to Baochai.

"Witty?" Daiyu bridled up. "She's just a foul-mouthed, tiresome creature." And she spat on the ground.

"Don't be a dreamer!" cried Xifeng. "If you married into our family, what would you lack?" She pointed at Baoyu. "Just look at him! Is his looks, his family, his position or his fortune not good enough for you? Who would be the loser?"

Daiyu stood up to go. But Baochai called, "Frowner's in a hurry. Sit down and stop this. It'll be too bad if you go." She rose and caught hold of her.

Just as they reached the door, out stepped Concubine Zhao and Concubine Zhou, who had come to see Baoyu. Li Wan, Baochai, and Baoyu invited them to sit down, but Xifeng went on chatting and laughing with Daiyu and did not so much as glance at them.

Baochai was about to speak when a maid from Lady Wang's quarters announced, "The mistress' brother's wife is here. She asks the young ladies and Madam Lian to go out."

Li Wan hastily called to Xifeng and left with her. The two concubines hastily took leave of Baoyu and followed.

"I can't go out either," said Baoyu. "See to it that my aunt doesn't come in. Wait a moment, Cousin Lin. I have something to say to you."

Xifeng turned to Daiyu with a grin. "Someone wants to speak to you." She gave her a push from behind and left with Li Wan.

Baoyu caught hold of Daiyu's sleeve, grinning. He had something to say but couldn't get it out. Daiyu's cheeks burned crimson as she tried to pull free.

Baoyu suddenly gave a cry of "Aiyo! My head!"

"It serves you right," said Daiyu. "Buddha preserve us!"

With a loud shout of "I'm dying!" Baoyu leapt three or four feet into the air, shouting and raving at the top of his lungs.

Daiyu and the maids were terrified. They rushed to report this to Lady Wang and the old Lady Jia.

As the wife of Wang Ziteng was there too, she came with them. When they arrived, Baoyu was brandishing a knife and stick, threatening to kill himself. The whole place was in an uproar.

At the sight of him, the old lady and Lady Wang trembled so violently that their clothes rustled, and cried "My child! My darling!" as they broke into loud lamentations.

The commotion roused the whole household. Jia She, Lady Xing, Jia Zhen, Jia Zheng, Jia Lian, Jia Rong, Jia Yun, Jia Ping, Aunt Xue, Xue Pan, and all the Jia family from top to bottom, indoors and out, as well as all the wives and maids, flocked to the garden. In no time it was in a state of chaos.

In the midst of this confusion, Xifeng came charging into the garden brandishing a gleaming sword. She killed every chicken and dog she saw and tried to kill any human being who crossed her path. This terrified the others even more.

Zhou Rui's wife quickly rallied several strong, courageous old bondmaids to seize Xifeng, wrest the sword from her, and carry her back to her room.

Ping'er and Feng'er wept bitterly, but Jia Zheng and the others were too distracted, not knowing which way to turn.

The panic of the other members of the household goes without saying; but Xue Pan was thrown into even more frantic agitation than any of them. He was afraid that Aunt Xue would be jostled and knocked down by the crowd, afraid that Xue Baochai might be seen by strangers, afraid that Xiangling might be molested—for he knew that Jia Zhen and his sort were men who made it their business to have their way with women—and so he was kept in a state of the most pitiable distraction. Suddenly his eyes fell on Lin Daiyu, with her grace and gentle charm, and he was so overwhelmed by her beauty that he melted on the spot, rooted to the ground.

Meanwhile the company talked this way and that: some said they should send for an exorcist to drive away the evil spirits; others said they should ask a shamaness to dance and invoke the gods; still others recommended the Taoist Master Zhang of the Jade Emperor's Pavilion—a great hubbub of suggestions, every one different. All kinds of cures and prayers had been tried, divinations performed and spirits consulted, but nothing worked. As the sun was about to set, Madam Wang Ziteng took her leave; the very next day Wang Ziteng himself came to inquire. Then the family of the Junior Marquis of Shou, the brothers of Lady Xing, and all the various relatives came to visit, some bringing blessed water, some recommending monks and Taoists, but all to no avail. The uncle and nephew grew still more delirious, unconscious, lying in bed with their bodies burning as hot as coals, saying every kind of wild thing. At night none of the old women, young wives, or maids dared go near them. So the two of them were carried to Lady Wang's upstairs chamber, and Jia Yun was put in charge of a rotation of pages to keep watch through the night. The Dowager, Lady Wang, Lady Xing, Aunt Xue, and the others never left their bedside for an inch, but stood around weeping helplessly.

At this point Jia She and Jia Zheng, fearing that the Dowager would be wept into illness, kept lamps burning day and night, disturbing the whole household, yet neither of them had any idea what to do. Jia She went everywhere searching for monks and Taoists. Jia Zheng, seeing that none of it worked, was deeply vexed and tried to restrain Jia She: "The fate of children is determined by Heaven; it cannot be forced by human effort. The illness of these two came upon us unexpectedly, and since all remedies have proved useless, I suppose this is the will of Heaven. We can only let things take their course." Jia She paid no heed to these words, but continued to bustle about in every direction, achieving nothing. Three days passed, and Xifeng and Baoyu lay in bed as before, their breath now almost imperceptible. The whole household was in a panic; all said there was no hope left, and they busied themselves preparing the burial clothes and shrouds for the two of them. The Dowager, Lady Wang, Jia Lian, Ping'er, and Xiren wept even more desperately than the others, forgetting to eat and sleep, seeking death to end their grief. Zhao姨娘 and Jia Huan were secretly delighted. On the fourth day, in the early morning, just as the Dowager and the others were gathered around Baoyu weeping, Baoyu suddenly opened his eyes and said: "From now on, I shall no longer be in your household! Make haste, pack my things, and send me away." When the Dowager heard these words, it was as though her heart had been torn out and her liver cut away. Zhao姨娘, standing nearby, tried to console her: "Old Ancestress, there is no need for such excessive grief. The young master is beyond hope. It would be better to dress him in his grave-clothes and let him go sooner, so he may be spared further suffering. If you keep clinging to him and he cannot breathe his last, he will suffer unrest in the next world as well." Before she had finished speaking, the Dowager spat in her face and cursed: "You rotten-tongued, wretched old biddy, who asked you to come here and meddle with your tongue? How do you know he will suffer in the next world? How do you know he is beyond hope? You wish him dead—what good would it do you? Don't dream of it! If he dies, I shall hold you all responsible. It was none of your doing, was it, that you coaxed and pressured him to write and study every day, frightening his wits out of him, so that when he saw his father he cowered like a mouse hiding from a cat? It was none of you wantons who led him on! Now that you've hounded him to death, you've had your way, and I shall spare none of you!" She cursed and wept at the same time. Jia Zheng, standing nearby, heard these words and felt even more grieved. He ordered Zhao姨娘 to withdraw and came forward himself to speak soothingly and gently. Just then someone came to report: "Both coffins have been finished, if the Master would step out to inspect them." When the Dowager heard this, it was like pouring oil on a fire. "Who had the coffins made?" she cried. "Bring the man who made them here and beat him to death!" The uproar was at its height, beyond all control, when suddenly the faint sound of a wooden fish was heard, and a voice chanted: "Homage to the Bodhisattva who resolves karmic enmity! If any person is beset by misfortune, if any household is thrown into turmoil, if any has encountered peril or been possessed by evil spirits, we are skilled in healing them." The Dowager and Lady Wang, upon hearing these words, could contain no longer and ordered someone to fetch the speaker in at once. Jia Zheng, though uneasy, could not disobey the Dowager's command. He wondered how, in such a deep and secluded mansion, the voice could have been heard so distinctly, and was himself curious; so he ordered the man to be brought in. All raised their eyes and saw that it was a monk with a scarred head and a lame Taoist.

The monk was thus in appearance:

His nose hung like a gallbladder, his two brows were long;

His eyes shone like bright stars, hoarding a precious light.

His tattered robe and straw sandals left no trace of dwelling,

And to crown it all, his head was covered with running sores.

The Taoist was thus in appearance:

One foot high and one foot low, his whole body dripping with water and dragging in the mud.

If you asked where his home lay, it was west of the Weak Waters of Penglai.

Jia Zheng asked: "In which temple do you two cultivate yourselves?" The monk smiled and said: "Sir, there is no need for many words. We have heard that there is illness in your household, and we have come specifically to heal it." Jia Zheng said: "Two people in our house have been possessed by evil spirits. Do you have any blessed water?" The Taoist smiled and said: "In your house you already possess a treasure rare in the world; why then ask us for blessed water?" Jia Zheng sensed meaning in these words and was moved. He said: "When my son was born, he brought a piece of jade into the world with him. It is said on the jade that it can drive away evil spirits, but as it turns out, it has not proved efficacious." The monk said: "Sir, you do not know the wondrous power of that object. It has lost its efficacy because he has now been bewitched by the temptations of sound, sight, profit, and desire. Now take it out for us, and let us chant over it—I expect it will then do the trick."

When Jia Zheng heard this, he took the jade from around Baoyu's neck and handed it to the two of them. The monk received it, held it up in his palm, and let out a long sigh. "Since we parted at Blue Ridge Peak, thirteen years have passed in the blink of an eye! How swiftly the years fly in the mortal world—the bonds of earthly desire run their course as quickly as a snap of the fingers! How I envy the virtues you possessed back then:

Unbound by heaven, unchained by earth,

No joy or sorrow stirred within your heart.

But after you were forged and gained your numinous power,

You descended into the world to seek out right and wrong.

Alas, what you have endured today:

Powder and rouge have stained your precious light,

Silken chambers day and night have trapped the paired mandarin ducks.

A deep drunken dream must end in waking,

Once karmic debts are paid, all parties may part in peace!"

When he had finished chanting, he stroked and fingered the jade once more, spoke some mad words, and handed it back to Jia Zheng. "This object has become numinous; it must not be profaned. Hang it above the lintel of your bedroom. Place the two of them together in one room. No one besides their own wives and mothers may enter—no women of yin constitution must cross their path. After thirty-three days, I guarantee they will recover their health and return to their former state." With that, he turned and walked away. Jia Zheng hurried after him, wanting to detain him to sit for tea and to present a gift of thanks, but the two had already departed. The Lady Dowager and the others kept sending people to chase after them, but there was no trace to be found. Nothing for it but to follow his instructions and place the two of them in Lady Wang's bedroom, hanging the jade above the door. Lady Wang kept watch in person and allowed no one else to enter. By evening the two of them gradually came to, saying they were hungry in the belly. The Lady Dowager and Lady Wang were as overjoyed as if they had obtained precious treasures; they promptly prepared rice broth and fed it to the two of them. Their spirits gradually strengthened, the evil influences slowly receded, and only then did the whole family set their minds at rest.

Li Wan, the three sisters of the Jia household, Xue Baochai, Lin Daiyu, Ping'er, Xiren, and the others waited outside for news. When word came that they had eaten the rice broth and regained their senses, before anyone else could speak, Lin Daiyu was the first to cry out, "O-mi-to-fu!" Xue Baochai turned and stared at her for a long moment, then let out a laugh. None of the others understood the meaning. Jia Xichun said, "Sister Bao, what on earth are you laughing at?" Baochai said with a smile, "I'm laughing at the Tathagata Buddha, who is even busier than people—he must expound the scriptures and teach the dharma, and also deliver all living creatures from suffering. Now that Brother Baoyu and Sister Feng have fallen ill, people burn incense and fulfill vows, praying for blessings and the warding off of calamity. They have only just recovered, and now he must also manage Sister Lin's marriage prospects. Don't you think it's laughable how busy he is?" Lin Daiyu flushed crimson without realizing it, and spat, "You people are no good—I don't know how you'll die! If you won't follow good people's example, at least don't learn from Sister Feng's vulgar, sharp tongue." With that, she threw open the curtain and walked out. What happened next will be told in the following chapter.